toddler
- 01 B1 Intermediate
a young child who has recently learned to walk, usually between one and three years old.
a child in the early stage of development, specifically between infancy and preschool age, who is beginning to walk independently.
Simple“The toddler took a few shaky steps across the living room before falling down.”
In context“Parents often find the toddler years challenging as children begin to assert their independence while still lacking refined motor control and emotional regulation.”
Usageoften used to describe the specific needs or behaviors of children in this age group.
Teacher's tipLearners often confuse 'toddler' with 'baby' (infant) or 'child' (general); emphasize that 'toddler' specifically refers to the walking-learning stage.
From toddle (“to walk unsteadily”) + -er – literally “one who walks unsteadily”, hence a young child.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.